Blues Sign 2010 Draft Pick Wannstrom
Per announcement on the St. Louis Blues official website, prospect forward Sebastian Wannstrom has agreed to a three year Entry Level Contract (ELC).
The 20 year old Gavle, Sweden native spent most of the 2010-11 season with Brynas of the SEL.
Wannstrom was the 44th pick overall (2nd round) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
According to CapGeek, the ELC carries a $67,500 salary in the AHL and an escalating salary in the NHL of $740,000 (11-12), $765,000 (12-13) and $815,000 (13-14). The AAV and cap hit is $773,333.
Prospect Analysis
Wannstrom is listed at 6’1 and 180 pounds. Certainly a body size capable of handling North American punishment with room to grow.
Don’t let numbers fool you. Wannastrom has plenty of skill. His 2 assists in 45 games with Byrnas last season may look the opposite of impressive, but in the season leading up to his drafting he tallied 57 points in 35 games with the club’s SuperElit squad. Impressive point totals by European scoring standards. He has also been a solid producer for the Sweden on the international stage. At the 2011 World Junior Championships. he registered 5 points in 6 games. In 15 games total of international play he totaled 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists).
Hockey’s Future ranks Wannstrom 11th on the Blues Prospect Depth Chart. Check out his profile.
EliteProspects.com says the following about Wannstrom.
Wännström is a strong-skating and technically skilled player that creates a lot of space, not only for himself, but also for his teammates. Usually puts up a good amount of points on the board and enough all-round to be used on a scoring line as well as on a checking line.
BNZ POV
Wannstrom will not be coming over right away. He will remain in Sweden for the 2011-12 season before entertaining a jump across the Atlantic.
It’s very difficult to predict where the winger will be in his development when he does come make the trip. Unless he has a breakout season in the SEL he is like destined for at least half a season in Peoria to get acclimated to the North American game.
He projects to be a top 9 forward with some potential to fill in a top 6 role. Think similar to Vladimir Sobotka. Not so much in play style, but in relative placement in a NHL lineup.
Assuming he does come over it’s a solid move to bring in more depth capable of growing in to a quality NHL player.
Please check out the original source of the report, a Swedish website. Below is a translated version of the article. Interesting parts are in bold. Apparently his WJC performance sparked further Blues interest and his “lack of numbers” last season is due to “lack of playing”.
Brynäs anonymous said on NHL contracts
Signed the contract at the last minute on Wednesday night
Here is the next Brynäs talent for writing a viable NHL contract.
Hidden ice Sebastian Wännström from Bomhus in Gävle is ready for St.. Louis Blues.- It feels great that it turned out like this, but I’ll stay in Brynäs another season, “said 20-year-old.
Sebastian Wännström is perhaps not the most prominent or well-known of all young brynäsare erupted in recent years.
But just hours before the deadline for transition to the NHL went out into the night he signed a three-year rookie contract with the St.. Louis Blues.
Thus, he joined with Mattias Ekholm, Jakob Silfverberg and Johan Larsson who also made it clear with NHL clubs during the summer.
- I got a really good contract, recognizes a happy and elated Sebastian Wännström.
In what sport experience, it is a similar contract as the James Silfverberg recently signed with Ottawa. This means that even Wänström can sign for a “sign-on bonuses ranging from 90 $ 000 (around 540 000 SEK), and payable in two installments during the summer and at Christmas.
- I would not talk so much about my individual contract and thought I would not think so much of the money. But it is clear that it’s fun, “says Wännström who are looking to buy a boat to” celebrate “the contract.
But before St. Louis starts to pay the salary he will be lent out and play another season in Brynäs.
- Yes, we were in complete agreement. I want to continue to thrive at home and hope to have a supporting role in a chain of winter.
So far, according to statistics, he played 63 league matches, but in more of them, he sat on the bench and the fact is that Wännström have not done any target in the top division.
But he has worked determinedly forward in my career and after the winter fine game in the Junior World Championships got St. Louis opened their eyes to him seriously.
The JVM Wännström had a prominent role in the Swedish team which finished fourth. But many will remember from that tournament was to brown the author was one of Swedes who missed a penalty in the semifinal against Russia.
- I heard after the season was over with Brynäs to St. Louis was interested in and then have my agent kept in touch and negotiated, “says Wännström.
- I have been training well during the summer and hopefully I can make a good season with the brow. It feels good to Tommy Jonsson as new head coach.
• Will you be traveling over to the U.S. this summer?
- No, I have refused to join the St. Lou’s training camp. I have chosen to focus on to train with the brow and trying to be in as good shape as possible when the premier league starts.
